From Theory to Application, a Minor that Fits

From his first communication course, the discipline hit home for Vincent Tran ’18. In the intro course with Professor of Communication Catherine Phelan, Tran began to think about how a person communicates will vary depending on the context or environment.

He’s observed that in himself. On his internships, the first last summer at a New York City start-up, LeagueApps, and this summer as a financial advisor at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in Boston, Tran speaks very differently than he does when he’s back home in Quincy, Mass., or with his buddies on campus.

The communication theory he was exposed to in that first class captured his interest, and he went on to minor in communication. He likes that the communication theory he is learning has real-world application. “I think that’s how academia should be — basically understanding the theory as well as applying it to your daily life,” he says.

Through his communication coursework and the overall emphasis on communication at Hamilton, and through his own effort, Tran says, he’s improved his ability to communicate in groups.

“The most interesting thing I have learned from communications is the idea of understanding your audience and how to effectively communicate based on that audience,” he says.

Tran majors in sociology, which he sees as a complement to communication. Both areas of study are important in understanding different cultures and people, he says.